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The Associated PressJune 12, 2009Gay rights groups expressed dismay with the Obama administration Friday over its championing of the Defense of Marriage Act, a law the president pledged to try to repeal while on the campaign trail. The government filed a motion late Thursday to dismiss the case of Arthur Smelt and Christopher Hammer, who are challenging the 1996 federal act. The law prevents couples in states that recognize same-sex unions from securing Social Security spousal benefits, filing joint taxes and other federal rights of marriage. "The president made very explicit and emphatic campaign promises that he opposes DOMA and would provide leadership calling on Congress to repeal it," said Jennifer Pizer, marriage project director for Lambda Legal. "This brief is not consistent with that promise." [Link]

America BlogJune 14, 2009Richard Socarides, a former Hill staffer and top aide to President Clinton, weighs in on whether or not President Obama's Department of Justice had a choice to file a brief supporting the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA):

From my experience, in a case where, as here, there are important political and social issues at stake, the president’s relationship with the Justice Department should work like this: The president makes a policy decision first and then the very talented DOJ lawyers figure out how to apply it to actual cases. If the lawyers cannot figure out how to defend a statute and stay consistent with the president’s policy decision, the policy decision should always win out.

The Huffington PostJune 5, 2009A campaign is underway to encourage the Department of Justice to refuse to defend the Defense of Marriage Act in the legal challenge launched by the Massachusetts based Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders. Laurence Tribe, the Harvard Constitutional law professor who hired Obama as a research assistant in his first year of law school, supports the claim that DOMA Section 3 is unconstitutional. Professor Tribe told Paul Sousa, founder of Equal Rep: "I certainly agree that Section 3 of DOMA is unconstitutional, at least as applied to couples like those who are currently challenging it in federal court here in Massachusetts." [Link]

In the proclamation, Obama mentions the legislative priorities, including overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman and allows states to discriminate against gay couples who get married in other states, and the "don't ask, don't tell" policy, which bars gays from serving openly in the military.

"I continue to support measures to bring the full spectrum of equal rights to LGBT Americans," Obama says in the proclamation. (Link)

Washington BladeMay 21, 2009The White House on Wednesday issued a statement reiterating President Obama's support for repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. "DOMA is a federal law passed by Congress that precludes uniform federal recognition of same-sex relationships, even those recognized as valid under the law of the state," the statement says. "Because the President believes that this is an issue that should be left to the states, he continues to support the legislative repeal of DOMA." [link]

Wall Street JournalMay 21, 2009Gay and lesbian couples wed in Massachusetts are challenging the law that keeps them from getting federal marital benefits. Plaintiffs say DOMA means they pay higher taxes because they can't file a joint return, and they can't collect spousal Social Security benefits, among other restrictions. Their lawsuit argues that the government discriminates against their marriages and infringes on their constitutional right to equal protection under the Fifth Amendment. [Link]

Huffington PostMay 20, 2009Emma Ruby-Sachs on the Obama administration and DOMA: "Obama has the option, as has every President before him, to refuse to defend clearly unconstitutional laws. He has the opportunity today, to stand up for equal rights by refusing to argue DOMA's constitutionality in court." [Link]

Associated PressMay 19, 2009Mass. supporters of marriage equality are launching a new campaign to urge President Obama to seek the repeal of the misnamed "DOMA". The campaign coincides with a lawsuit brought by the Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders against the section of DOMA prohibiting federal recognition of marriages of same-sex couples. [Link]

Pam's House BlendMay 18, 2009Kerry Eleveld of The Advocate finally got a crack at White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs at the daily press briefing and asked if the President was working to ensure federal recognition for gay couples who marry. Gibbs response: "I...I will have to go check on that. I honestly don't know the answer to that." (Link)

Washington PostMay 17, 2009As President Obama prepares to name his first Supreme Court justice, conservatives in Washington are making clear that his nominee will face plenty of questions during the confirmation process on the legal underpinnings of marriage equality for gay couples. [link]